William j



(No Model.)

W. J. MQGALL. HAT BRIM OURLING MACHINE.

No. 593,810 Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

mmmmams'fimmvamm BY M ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

WILLIAM J. MCGALL, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LUDOVIO MCGALL, OF SAME PLACE.

HAT-BRliVl-CURLING. MACHINE.

- SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 593,810, dated November 16, 1897. Application filed July 27, 1896'. Serial No. 600,615. (No model.)

To whom it may concern.-

' a citizen of the United States, residing at West Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and -useful Improvements in Hat-Curling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of thisinvention are to simplify the construction of hat=curling machines and reduce the cost thereof, to provide a device that will be more convenient to the operator and give him greater control of the hat when curling the same, to provide a device that will admitof the curl being'made to extend closer to the body of the hat than-can be secured when a rotating shaft having a convex'curling wheel or button is disposed between the curled edge of the brim and the body of the hat, and to secure other advantages and results, some of which will be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved hatcurling machine and in the arrangements and combinationsof parts thereof, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine, illustrating my invention, the section being taken on line at of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the said machine.

The invention relates more particularly to that class of hat-curlin g machines represented by the one shown in my former patent, No. 480,877, of August 16, 1892.

In carrying out the invention I employ, in connection with a suitable table, bed, or frame a, of any desired form, arrangement, or construction, a revolving curling-frame b,having at its upper part an annular inwardly-concavous rim or flange 0, supported by arms d,

extending up from a wheel-shaped part e, a hub f of which bears upon the frame or table a and" is provided with an axle or shaft 9, which last extends through the table or frame and is provided on the under side of said table with a bevel gearing-wheel h. Said bevel gear-wheel h meshes with a cooperating bevelwheel 2' on a shaft 3' with apower-pulley k, by means of which last and its connections power is transmitted to the frame b to effect arotation of said frame-in a horizontal plane, preferably' at a low rate of speed:

The concavous' flange 0 may be modified in shape at will to suit the various shapes desired to be formed in or given to the curled hat-brim.

Cooperating with the concavous flange c is a stationary or a non-rotary ironing-tool Z, which is provided with ahook-shaped extremity adapted to curl under the upper member and into the concavity of the flange o, as shown in Fig. 1. This tool slides in a suitable bearing of the frame a to or from said frame and normally presses toward the concavous flange a, so as to force the hat-brim into the concavity thereof. 1

The elastic pressure desired is obtainedby means of a spring m, which normally tends to draw the ironing-hook of the tool toward said frame. A spring a, arranged beneath the said tool, tends to throw the latter upward, so that the lower part of the hook of the tool will press upward beneath the upper member of the concavous flange. The upward pressure on the hat is regulated by an adjusting-screw 0, arranged in any suitable manner. To throw the tool away from the concavous flange a prior to arranging the hatbrim between or withdrawing it from the parts, I may employ a lever p, which is connected by a rope or Wire q with a pedal (not shown) or other suitable operating devices.

The tool Z is kept at a high temperature by means of a gas-jet 1, adapted to throw the flame into a cup-like portion 8 of the tool. A steam-pipe 25 may throw a jet of steam against the felt of the hat as it passes between the curling parts.

The concavous flange c is raised considerably above the base of the frame I), so that the operator may enter his hand beneath the hat as it passes into contact with the curling members of the machine, so as to guide the movements of the hat with greater ease and more perfectly control the curling operations.

The hooked or backwardly-turned extremity of the tool Z is made wide, as shown in outline in Fig. 2, so that considerable ironingsurfaoe is brought into contact with the felt of the hat, and the extreme edge of said tool corresponds in convexity to the contiguous portion of the annular curve for the same reason. I prefer to roughen to some extent the concavous portion of the annular flange, so that the felt of the hat-brim is held thereto and thereby caused to rotate with the frame as they travel over the ironing-tool. The friction of the tool, taken in connection with the pressure produced by the springs, the heat of the flame, and the dampness and heat of the steam, effects a very permanent curl to the hat-brim. I prefer to provide a support 10 for the hat at a point opposite where it is being curled. This relieves the Operator from the weight of the hat and yet allows of free manipulation.

As the fixed curling or non-rotary tool is quite thin where it passes between the inner edge of the upper member of the concavous flange and the hat-body, I am enabled to make a Very tight curl in the hat-brim, as will be apparent. The machine has thus greater 1scope in its ability to curl various styles of iats.

The operation of the machine is very simple. The frame I) is given its rotary movement by the operating mechanism in the manner already described. The tool Z is heated by means of the gas-flame and the steam is conducted to the felt after the latter has been adjusted between the curling parts. As the frame rotates, it draws the hat guided by the hands of the operator over said fixed ironingtool and the hat is given the desired shape around the outer edge of its brim.

Having thus described the invention,what I claim as new is 1. In a hat-curling machine, the combination with the rotary frame having an annular, concavous flange and arms d, supporting the same and raising said flange above the base of said frame to admit the hands of the operator to pass between the base of said frame and the hat-brim,of a hooked tool having an edge corresponding in curve with that of the flange, a spring for holding said parts in engagement with an elastic pressure and means for operating said frame,substantially as set forth.

2. In a hat-curling machine, the combination with the rotary frame, of a non-rotary ironing-tool cooperating therewith to curl the brim, a spring m, a gas-pipe, a steam-pipe t, and means for rotating said frame and throwin g said tool from said frame against the power of said spring, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a hat-curling machine, the combination with the rotary frame, having a concavous and annular flange raised above the base of said frame, bevel-gears h, i, shaft j and powerpulley, a support w, to cooperate with the hands in holding the hat up to the said annular flange, and an ironing-tool Z, spring m, and lever 17, and means whereby the same may be operated, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of July, 1896.

WILLIAM J. MCGALL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES II. PELL, OLIVER DRAKE. 

